Harambee Stars in high spirits as they begin preparations for back-to-back Qatar World Cup qualifiers
Edwin Otieno
National football team Harambee Stars yesterday held their first residential training session at the Utalii Grounds, as they kicked off preparations for the Qatar 2022 World Cup Qualifiers back-to-back matches against Uganda and Rwanda.
Stars will host neighbours Uganda on Thursday next week for the first qualifier at Nyayo Stadium, before they travel to Kigali, to face home team Rwanda three days later on September 5.
Local players called up for national duty reported to camp on Wednesday save for AFC Leopards influential forward Elvis Rupia who will be replaced by Tusker’s Henry Meja.
Harambee Stars defender Eugene Asike was oozing with confidence after the team’s first training session ahead of their road to Qatar campaign.
“Today’s training session was fruitful and exciting, we got to see how good our endurance is and I believe over the next training sessions we will improve and be in our best form for the crucial 2022 World Cup qualifying matches against Uganda and Rwanda,” said Asike.
Lawrence Juma who has been enjoying a good scoring form in club level, said he hoped to transcend his good form from the just culminated FKF Premier League to Harambee Stars so as to help the team get a positive result as they seek to qualify for the global showpiece for the first time ever.
“ I hope to transfer my good form from the club to the national team and help attain a positive result in the crucial back-to-back 2022 World Cup qualifier matches against Uganda and Rwanda,” said Juma who ended the season with 16 goals.
Foreign-based players are set to start checking into camp from Monday.
